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Will Another Favourite Claim the UBET SA Derby?

Matthew Ellerton & Simon Zahra will be hoping that the UBET South Australian Derby will continue to be happy hunting ground for favourites as their gelding Odeon has been installed as the $3.80 favourite for Saturday's Group 1.

Favourites have won six of the past ten Derby's and Odeon looks to be a good chance to make that seven from eleven on Saturday after his strong win at Caulfield two weeks ago. He will have the services of in-form jockey Damian Lane on Saturday, whom he has a one from one record aboard.  

Some of the strongest form lines coming into previous Derby's have been from the Group 3 Chairman's Stakes and the Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas stable will be hoping that Waging War can emulate that of his father, Rebel Raider who completed the Chairman's-Derby double in 2009. Clare Lindop will take the ride on the $13 chance and hope that she can recreate the same result as she did in 2009 on Rebel Raider.

Mick Price and Damien Oliver will be hoping to make it two Group 1s in two weeks with Netherfield, after taking out Saturday's Group 1 UBET Classic with Secret Agenda. Netherfield got held up after the turn in the Chairman's but ran on well and has been installed as the $6 second favourite in the Derby.

Last year's winning combination of Darren Weir and John Allen have $9 chance Volatile Mix in the race who ran fourth in the Chairman's, while Weir also has $8 chance and first emergency Rockstar Rebel. 

The last filly to take out the Derby was the Western Australian superstar Delicacy in 2015. The three fillies in Saturday's field all have interesting form lines with Savvy Dreams and Wheal Leisure having form around Group 1 ATC Oaks winner Bonneval while Sedanzer ran fifth in Saturday's Group 1 Schweppes Oaks.  

Previous UBET South Australian Derby Winners 

Year Horse Starting Price Last Run
2016 Howard Be Thy Name $5.70 1st Group 3 Chairman's Stakes Morphettville 2000m
2015 Delicacy $2F 1st Group 1 SA Oaks Morphettville 2000m
2014 Kushadasi $5.10 4th Group 3 Chairman's Stakes Morphettville 2000m
2013 Escado $12.50 2nd BM72 Geelong Synthetic 2000m
2012 Zabeelionaire $3.90F 1st Eastern Bridge Plate Caulfield 2000m
2011 Shadows in the Sun $24 6th Group 3 Frank Packer Plate Randwick 2000m
2010 Kidnapped $4.60F 3rd Group 3 Chairman's Stakes Morphettville 2000m
2009 Rebel Raider $2.60F 1st Group 3 Chairman's Stakes Morphettville 2000m
2008 Zarita $2.60F 1st Group 1 SA Oaks Morphettville 2000m
2007 Lazer Sharp $2.70F 1st Listed St Ledger Moonee Valley 2500m

Favourites have a great record in the Derby with six of the past ten winners starting favourite which is a good sign for the Ellerton & Zahra trained Odeon. While only two of the other four winners have been at double figure odds.

Six of the last ten Derby champions were also last start winners and in Saturday's field there are seven who saluted the judge first in their last race. Of those only Waging War and Dornier won black-type races which has been the strongest form line coming into the Derby.

Only one winner in the last ten years has finished worse than fourth in their last start and that was Shadows in the Sun back in 2011. Six horses in the field are coming off runs where they didn't finish top four including the $13 chance Anaheim.

Most interestingly, all horses who have won over the last ten years ran over 2000m in their lead up run. He Ekscels and Savvy Dreams are the only two horses in this field didn't run that distance in their last start suggesting it could be tough for them to win.

Jockey Ben Melham has had the most success in this race of all the jockey's competing on Saturday having won the race twice. His first in 2011 on Shadows in the Sun and then in 2013 on Escado.

Local hoop Jason Holder will be hoping Gun Guru can give him his second Derby after winning his first, 20 years ago on Markham in 1997.

UBET South Australian Derby Market

Odeon - $3.80

Netherfield - $6

Ruthven - $7

Volatile Mix - $8

Rockstar Rebel (EMG) - $9

Waging War, Grand Chancellor, Anaheim - $13

Others - $15+

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